Milestones

This is my youngest. She graduates from High School today. Then, after a whirlwind summer, she is off to St. Ambrose University to become a High School English teacher.

She's going to be phenomenal!

I hate that I've been so absent from my own dear blog! I do have so much to discuss and so little time to discuss it!

But I'll try making a list to keep me on task.

Things I want to blog about:

• How I'm doing (I'm healing and still here, keeping my chin up, and getting back on the horse actually)
• World Book Night (I was a giver)
• Little time for reading but am working on it!
• Acquisitions - found some goodies!
• De-construction of the library at my house because
• Moved my mom in with me (she has dementia)
• Upcoming BEA
• Writing work
• Graduation of my youngest

Anything else as I think of it :)

Sunday Screening - Les Miserables

I'd seen the non-musical version of Victor Hugo's masterpiece of humanity Les Miserables, but the new production was my first introduction to the musical.

First, let me say that this story is one of those stories that has touched me so much, with the bravery, cruelty and above all the amazing amount of redemption!!!

Now as for the musical.

Performances were amazing! Hugh Jackman was great!

Anne Hathaway blew them all away!

But my sympathies and favorite performance was Samantha Barks as Eponine.

She brought that character to it's full force of emotion! (and I identify most closely with her.)

Some tears most def, but mostly just an overwhelming depression!

I feel like I need to watch something upbeat! Something cheerful and uplifting, like Romeo and Juliette or Old Yeller or something!

Life of Pi... On Pi Day! Hey!

I honestly didn't realize I would be reviewing Life of Pi on Pi day! How cool is that!! :)

Now if I could just report that I liked it.

Synopsis from Amazon: After the sinking of a cargo ship, a solitary lifeboat remains bobbing on the wild blue Pacific. The only survivors from the wreck are a sixteen-year-old boy named Pi, a hyena, a wounded zebra, an orangutan—and a 450-pound royal bengal tiger. The scene is set for one of the most extraordinary and beloved works of fiction in recent years.
Except I wasn't convinced. Was it good? Yeah it was, once you got to the end. In the middle is was horrific! Not that fiction can't be great and be horrific, it can, but this just seemed to drag out and to be so brutal. As is life, yeah yeah I know. I "get" the whole metaphor and allegory. And I know what it is to fight and fear one's own base nature. I couldn't help it though.

It just wasn't one of my favorites. The sea was huge and long, the island was a total, please excuse the expression, mind-fuck, and Richard Parker was too sad for words!! I felt bad for the damn tiger through the whole entire book!!

I suppose, were I inclined to have some friends read it and then sit around and discuss it over pink wine, I may find some of the 'easter eggs' of moral, introspective, wisom that I missed on my (admittedly distracted) first read...

And an even better testament to the strength of this book is that I WILL some day read it again. And hopefully when I do, I can be more relaxed, and more analytical.

Until then... I give Life of Pi 3/5.

Happy 3.14!!! 

On The Upside..

Here I am. Breathing in, breathing out.

On a positive note.

I can report that I have paid down my Credit card by 2000 :)

And I intend to keep at it!

:)


I am finishing up Life of Pi. I have come to the conclusion though that I simply do not care for this book.

I had my first DNF in quite a few years. Savannah Blues. Just couldn't take it. Too blithe.

Maybe here pretty soon I'll find something new that catches my interest.....

And I mean that in many respects I hope.

The Wisdom of Resolutions

I had one very key New Year's Resolution. No Relationships.

And I broke that one very Quickly. and Very Very thouroughly.

I fell in love.

And He didn't catch me.

And I'm so broken I really don't know how to go on.

My life had been, if not full, at least busy.

Now I can't figure out how to get out of bed, or eat, or work, or care. Im so confused on why I am always the one kicked aside...and this time by someone who had everything I've ever wanted...including promises that made me happy.

I don't care if I ever blog again. Books don't even hold a minor interest, or passing fancy. Not much does at the moment.

I'll heal. Somehow. But I'm scarred now. Worse than has ever happened to me.

Leukemia I could fight. This is out of my control. I can't even say please.

I'll keep going, my kids compell that. I want to see their lives. And how full they will be.  And like all mothers, I will hope that their lives turn out better than mine.

Juggling fail

Well I'd have to say I need to chalk the month of January up to a giant fail for my exuberantly penned New Years Resolutions.

I just didn't do such a good job at juggling! I honestly can not believe there is anyone anywhere that is bored! I have so much to do and dumb me, I just keep taking on more stuff.... and I know that's dangerous! To the responsibilities I have and to the people in my life and to me!

(ps- I don't know why I find that pic so funny, but it just tickles me!!)

So....
I finished Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close

..and for the most part I liked it. Except is it just me or was there nearly a trend of ADHD, Autistic, Savant, Asperger's, OC books. If not a trend, I certainly read all of them that were out there. back to back to back. And I liked them all, but now I get them confused. (I'm old..don't forget that part)

Then I turned around and did it again with a different topic. My daughter read Life of Pi by Yann Martel

and liked it and the movie was coming out so I decided to read it and aside from the cover (the tiger, the boy and the boat) I really had no idea what it was about. I was only about 25 pages into it when a business trip came up and on my way out of town I grabbed an audio book from the library...

The Alchemist. Without having the slightest idea what it was about. (I actually decided on it because I wanted to spend time with Jeremy Irons...or at least his voice!)

I'm starting to worry about myself!


On Deck is a book for our library book club...

Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews and I can not wait to leisurely devour some southern lit! It's my favorite the way fresh warm chocolate chip cookies are my favorite.

My writing has taken a seat so far to the back I'm thinking of naming my muse Jim Crow. I thought of at least 2 deeply poignant writing ideas this week and they were so clear and so powerful that I did NOT see the need to write them down, after all they were pure genius and who would forget something that powerful and affective... well me. that's who'd forget (remember...I'm OLD). 47. you'd think I'd learn.

I'm stuck in Minnesota at the moment for my day job. I've got a burst blood vessel in my eye. I've never had that happen to me before. It sucks because it's not like you can cover it up. And I have a killer headache so it's time for a cool washcloth and closed eyes.

Maybe even some TV. haven't done that in a few days. Nah!